Head groundsman Christian Brain is confident that he will be able to produce a good cricket wicket for Gloucestershire’s one-off County Championship Division Two game against Lancashire at Cheltenham College at the end of May.

The four-day game starts on Monday 27th May and will take place on a different square to the one that is used during the Cheltenham Festival in July.

It will be played on a wicket closer to the chapel with Brain confirming: “The game will be played on the College square used by the College’s 1st XI, not the Festival one.

“Visitors to the Festival will know it as the nets square where the players practice in the mornings during the Festival.”

So why is that?

“It’s for three reasons,” continued Brain. “Firstly, the game is in the middle of our summer term and this wicket is therefore ready to use.

“Secondly, the Festival square has only enough wickets for games during the Festival and finally, the College has its Speech (Leavers’) Day on the Saturday before this game. It is therefore easier for my staff and I to manage the wickets on the same square.

“The two squares have the same make-up and play in a very similar way. I expect the wicket to play well. I have everything crossed for the weather to be favourable in the lead up to and during the week of the game.”

The Lancashire game is being played in Cheltenham because Gloucestershire are staging three World Cup warm-up games in Bristol around this time and spectators heading to the College will notice other changes apart from the location of the wicket.

“This game will be very different to the Festival, there will be no marquees and no stands,” added Brain. “There will be some seating available, but we do ask spectators to bring their own seating.

“Tickets can be purchased on the gate on the day, but we encourage people to purchase from Gloucestershire County Cricket Club prior to the game. The College will be providing food and drink from our dining hall and coffee shop.”

The Cheltenham Cricket Festival – it runs this year from 15th-25th July – is one of the showpiece sporting occasions in Gloucestershire and Brain is delighted that the College have been given the chance to host the game against Lancashire.

“It shows how highly Gloucestershire County Cricket Club regard the College pitch and ground staff that they have asked us to host this match on their behalf,” Brain said.

“I believe this is the first time that the College has hosted a first-class fixture in May, so it is a different challenge that we are looking forward to. We have previously hosted the 2nd XI during the half-term break and that has always gone well.”

And Brain is confident that the game will be well supported.

“Definitely,” he said. “The game starts on the Bank Holiday Monday and being half-term week, with good weather we should see a good turnout.

“Lancashire are a well-supported county who may bring plenty of followers with them, especially as the game is here in Cheltenham.

“I hope our local community will support the game too, I’d like to see plenty of families enjoying the game on our grounds. There will be plenty of space for picnics and for children to play.

“Lancashire could potentially have a very strong side with James Anderson, England’s all-time wicket taker, and Keaton Jennings, England’s Test opening batsman.

“It’s not every week that Cheltenham has these players in town, so don’t miss the chance to see them in action!”